Why floss?

Careful brushing alone is not sufficient for most patients, simply because the bristles of the toothbrush cannot make contact all parts or sides of teeth. Little nooks and crevices between teeth are often too deep to reach with any sort of brush. When teeth are crooked or when missing teeth are replaced with bridgework or implants, the challenge to maintain good oral hygiene becomes even more difficult.

Personal instruction in proper flossing technique should be given by the dentist or dental hygienist, and patients must closely follow the directions in order to have optimum oral hygiene. Careless flossing is the same as not flossing at all for the dental areas missed, and improper flossing techniques can damage and cut the gums and wear-away tooth root surfaces.

Following are descriptions of special types of floss for certain situations.

One handed flossing

Amputees, stroke victims and people recovering from arm or hand injury may have the use of only one hand, which makes conventional flossing impossible. Floss picks are small plastic sword-shaped utensils with dental floss forming part of the sword handle. Held between the fingers of one hand, the floss portion is used to floss between teeth.
 

Tight tooth contacts

Dental floss comes in many different thicknesses from very fine thread to thick tape, and with varied amounts of wax.

The non-stick factor helps the floss go between tight contacts, but has drawbacks in that it tends to slip off the fingers more than conventional floss, so a couple of extra wraps around the fingers is needed. Also, the plaque on teeth doesn't stick to the floss as well either, meaning more pressure must be used and it will take a little longer to floss adequately with slippery floss than regular. However, these are minor concerns compared to the annoyance of floss tearing and breaking.

Bridgework, implants, wide spaces between roots

Replacement of missing teeth with fixed bridges or implants often creates places which cannot be flossed in a normal way. The floss must be threaded underneath artificial teeth or other prosthetic structures in order use it. Small plastic or metal 'floss-threaders' resembling sewing needle threaders can be used to guide the floss between such places. Super Floss, has a built-in threader at one end of the floss. Each piece of Super Floss is approximately two feet long. The first two inches at one end of the floss are very stiff and can be guided into areas of difficulty. Connected to the stiff portion of the floss is five to six inches of thicker, yarn-like floss, which is good for cleaning wide spaces like the underside of bridgework or exposed tooth roots. Connected to the thick floss is about eighteen inches of conventional floss.

Special types of floss are available for use in difficult areas between teeth. Please consult your personal dentist or dental hygienist before altering daily oral hygiene practices.